Fuel vaporizer for internalcombustion engines



Feb. 9, 1954 J wA z 2,668,900

FUEL VAPORIZER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 21, 1950 1L 1% 2= will 0 7mm. if

1a 17 1, if! 3 II 1; [ll] W I: 6 67 I It 12 I z? Z 23 f l EQEIHIIIIIIIIII E 5 f4 Z! 22 INVENTQR. MICHAEL. J. KWART z Z6 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1954 FUELWAPORIZER FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTION EN GIN ES Michael J.;Kwartz, Klan .Nuys, Calif., assignor of Ol'l-QthfllfJOfGiflGbiMJ Trankla, vanNu-ys flalif.

Application ll'llnefZl, 1950, jseria'lNo. 169,855

iiClaims.

*Thepresent invention relatesto a "fuel-vaporizerfor an internal combustion engine; and has particular "reference to increasing the general efficiency of the engine for the fuel employed therein.

Broadly speaking, I provide a fuel vaporizer arranged'inthe fuel-conveying conduit leading fromga carburetor "to an intake manifold. This vaporizer i-sadapted to convert liquid gasoline and diesel fuel "oil into a thoroughly vaporized'state before reaching-the cylinders of the engine,-thus obtaining improved performance of the engine Withgreater'fuel-economy.

Moreover, I propose to utilize diesel fuel oil along'with'gasolinaand at the same time eliminate excessive exhaust smoke and fumes, this being accomplished by assuring vaporizing of these fuels 'prior'to injection into the engine.

As ajfurther objectof' theinvention, I provide a vaporizer of the character described thatwill function'in the capacity of abooster in starting an engine in a cold climate; as vaporized fuel is more readily combustible than liquid fuel.

Other objects and advantages .will appearas the specification continues. The novel "features of my inventiorrwill bepo'intedoutin the claims hereunto annexed.

Drawing Fora better-understandin of my invention, reference "should be had to "the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view illustrating my fuel vaporizer interposed in a fuel-conveying conduit leading from a carburetor to an intake manifold;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through my vaporizer and portions of the fuel-conveying conduit;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a separated view disclosing the fuel collector, the casing for a heating element, the ring, and adaptor of the vaporizer, portions being shown in section;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the heating element, and further shows a wiring diagram; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of that portion of the vaporizer enclosed by the circle VI in Figure 2.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

,.Detcile.d description Referring to thedrawing, Ihaveillustrated a down-draft carburetor indicated generally .at .A, which is connectedto an intake .manifoldB by .a fuel-conveying :conduit 0. The manifold, .of course delivers fuel .to .the cylinders of .an internal combustion engine (not shown) in the conventionalmanner.

Thefuel tobeemp-loyed consistsof a mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel oil, which .may be mixed in the desired proportion. I have found thatl60% gasoline and-40% diesel .fuel'oil give excellent results, with the engine producingno smokevduring operation. However, Ido .not wish to be limited to these percentages. .It .will be appreciated thatdiesel fuel oil is rela'tivelycheap as =compared with gasoline.

'Myfuel vaporizeris designated generally at D. InitSstructuraI-features, this vaporizer includes arr-.adaptor 1.0 which .is interposed between companion flanges .l I provided on confronting sections-CI and 0-2 -,of the fueleconveying conduit. studsrtlsare used for drawingthe flanges I 1 upon theinterposedadaptor.

:shown in Figures -2 and '4, the adaptor H) has :axpassageway 14 extending therethrough for flow of fuel from the carburetor to the-manifold. This adaptor defines a horizontal flange 15pmjecting inwardly of the passageway.

:It will be noted from .Figure -2 that a ringshaped fuel collector l6 is'disposed in thepassageway M. In detail, the collectorhas an upwardly-opening annular groove I! in its upper surface, which faces toward the carburetor, and is arranged horizontally. This groove provides a receptacle adapted for catching liquid fuel 18 flowing downwardly through the conduit C.

For the purpose of vaporizing the liquid fuel caught in the groove [1, I make use of a heating element [9, which is encased within th collector It. This heating element is accommodated in an annular recess 20 extending upwardly into the collector. A ring 2| is secured to the bottom of the collector so as to form a closure over the recess 20 and to hold the heating element in place. This may be accomplished by interengaging threads 22 provided between the collector IB and the ring 2i, although other fastening means may be provided therebetween. The ring 2| rests upon the flange 15 when the vaporizer is assembled.

The heatin element I9 consists of a spiralshaped metallic ribbon, whih is mounted in an annular casing 23 having a channel-shaped crosssection. The element [9 is inserted into the channel 24 of this casing, and is insulated therefrom by mica sheets 25. Asbestos pulp 2G, or other insulation, is packed between the convolutions of the heating element (see Figure 6).

Any suitable circuit may be provided for supplying electricity to the heating element. As shown in Figure 5, the outer end of this element is connected by a spring prong 21 to a lead-in wire 28. In turn, this wire is connected to a source of electricity 29, and the latter may be grounded, as at 38. For controlling the circuit, I have shown a switch 3| therein. In order to complete the electrical circuit, I have disclosed the inner end 32 of the heating element as being grounded to adaptor.

Obviously, the ring 21 may be unthreaded, and the casing 23 with its heating element I9 removed as a unit. This will allow a new heating unit to be inserted into the recess 20, after which the ring 2| may be replaced.

Summary of operation Assuming that my vaporizer D is interposed in the fuel-conveying conduit C between the carburetor A and the intake manifold 13, the operation is summarized briefly as follows:

As liquid fuel, such as a mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel oil, are drawn downwardly through the conduit C, a considerable amount thereof will be caught in the annular groove l7. With the heating element l9 activated by closing the switch 3!, the liquid fuel disposed in the groove I! will be heated to a vaporizing temperature.

This action will split the molecules and release more energy prior to combustion. When the energy is thus released, results are understood readily as there is more energized fuel available when the combustion takes place. This enables the conversion of a conventional gasoline engine into a diesel-consuming engine, eliminating excessive exhaust smoke and fumes. The activating action results in a greater fuel economy and improves the performance of the engine.

As previously stated, my device has an additional purpose of serving as a booster in starting a motor in a cold climate, as vaporized fuel is more readily combustible than liquid fuel.

Iclaim:

1. In a fuel vaporizer for an internal combustion engine: a fuel collector interposed in a fuelconveying conduit leading from a down-draft carburetor to an intake manifold; the collector defining an upwardly-opening annular groove facing toward the carburetor and being disposed adjacent to the inner wall of the fuel-conveying conduit throughout its entire circumference for catching liquid fuel passing downwardly through the conduit; and means for heating the fuel thus caught to a vaporizing temperature.

2. In a fuel vaporizer for an internal combustion engine: an adaptor having a passageway extending therethrough; the adaptor defining a horizontal flange projecting inwardly of the passageway; a ring-shaped fuel collector disposed in the passageway of the adaptor; the collector having an upwardly-opening annular groove in an upper surface of the collector for catching liquid fuel passing downwardly through the passageway; the collector having an annular recess extending upwardly thereinto from a lower surface of the collector; an annular casing having a channel-shaped cross-section provided with a heating element mounted in its channel; this casing being arranged in the underneath annular recess of the collector; and a ring forming a closure over this recess, and retaining the casing in place; the ring resting on the horizontal flange of the adaptor.

3. In a fuel vaporizer for an internal combustion engine: an adaptor having a passageway extending therethrough; a ring-shaped fuel collector disposed in the passageway of the adaptor; the collector having an upwardly-opening annular groove in its upper surface for catching liquid fuel passing downwardly through the passageway; the collector having an annular recess disposed below the fuel-catching annular groove; and a heating element mounted in the annular recess for heating the fuel collector and vaporiz ing any fuel collected in the annular groove.

4. A fuel vaporizer as set forth in claim 3; and in which an annular casing carries the heating element and is removably received in the annular recess.

MICHAEL J. KWARTZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,424,898 German Aug. 8, 1922 1,783,536 Godward Dec, 2, 1930 2,175,738 Betry Oct. 10, 939 2,587,713 Elliott et al Mar. 4, 1950 2,597,251 Mansoff May 20, 1952 

